WEBVTT SOT :04 SAM KILLAY, CLAREMONT "WE HAVE HAD TO RECONSIDER OUR SAFETY." TRACK SAM KILLAY NEVER IMAGINED THIS KIND OF PUBLIC BACKLASH AFTER REQUESTING RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY DISPLAYS IN A CLAREMONT PARK BE MOVED TO PRIVATE PROPERTY SOT :07 SAM KILLAY, CLAREMONT "I'VE HAD PEOPLE SCREAM AT ME, I'VE HAD PEOPLE MAIL ME THINGS. THREATEN ME ALL OVER THE INTERNET. TRACK AND KILLAY SAYS IT'S NOT JUST STRANGERS ONLINE. HE BELIEVES HIS OWN CITY COUNCILOR, JOHNATHAN STONE, OPENED THE DOOR FOR CONTINUED ATTACKS SOT :09 SAM KILLAY, CLAREMONT "HE HAD A POST UP FOR DAYS AND DAYS AND UNDER THAT WAS AN OVERWHELMINGL Y HOSTILE RESPONSE FROM HIMSELF AND FROM SEVERAL OF HIS FRIENDS. TRACK IN THIS SCREEN SHOT, PROVIDED BY KILLAY, A PROFILE WITH STONE'S NAME HAS BEEN SHARING AN ARTICLE ABOUT HIS REQUEST TO REMOVE THE DISPLAY. IT INCLUDES COMMENTS ON A PERSONAL PHOTOS AND INFORMATION OF KILLAY AND HIS WIFE. SOT :08 SAM KILLAY, CLAREMONT "THEY COULDN'T GET MUCH OFF MY SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE SO THEY DRAGGED MY WIFE INTO IT. THEY STOLE HER IMAGE AND SHARED OUR PLACES OF WORK. TRACK SOCIAL MEDIA FRIENDS LINKED TO THE PROFILE HURLED INSULTS AT THE COUPLE. WITH ONE POSTER MENTIONING A SO-CALLED SLING BLADE. SOT :10 SAM KILLAY, CLAREMONT " HE PROMOTED HARASSMENT. HE INSTIGATED IT BY PUTTING THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE. TRACK AND KILLAY SAYS THAT FACEBOOK POST, AND OTHERS LIKE IT, HAVE CREATED A REAL-WORLD SENSE OF DANGER. SOT :10 SAM KILLAY, CLAREMONT "YOU JUST KNOW THAT THERE'S SOMEONE OUT THERE THAT'S GOING TO DO SOMETHING DUMB. I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE LOOKS THAT I'M GETTING, AND IT'S JUST WHEN AND WHERE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN." TRACK KILLAY AND HIS WIFE TOOK THAT CONCERN TO THE CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK. EVEN THOUGH THE CLAREMONT'S CODE OF CONDUCT HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED IN MORE THAN 10 YEARS AND MAKES NO MENTION OF HOW PUBLIC OFFICIALS SHOULD CONDUCT THEMSELVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA. MAYOR CHARLENE LOVETT SAYS THE POST WAS INAPPROPRIATE ESPECIALLY IF IT CAME FROM AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. BUTTED SOTS :14 MAYOR CHARLENE LOVETT, MAYOR OF CLAREMONT "I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ANYONE, PUBLIC OFFICIAL OR NOT, TO ATTACK OTHER PEOPLE, TO MARGINALIZE THEM IN ANYWAY SAM KILLAY, CLAREMONT "I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT SHE ACTUALLY PLANS TO DO BECAUSE NICE WORDS ARE NICE WORDS BUT THEY DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING." TRACK LOVETT SAYS THE CITY IS LOOKING AT UPDATING ITS CODE OF CONDUCT. BUT IT WOULD TAKE A BALLOT VOTE TO UPDATE THE CITY CHARTER TO MAKE CERTAIN ONLINE ACTIVITY SOMETHING THAT WARRANTS REMOVAL FROM OFFICE. KILLAY SAYS HE DOES NOT WANT AN APOLOGY. SOT :3 SAM KILLAY, CLAREMONT "THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AND I WANT THE MAYOR TO ENSURE THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. TRACK IN CLAREMONT, ROSS KETSCHKE NBC 5 NEWS. NBC-5 REACHED OUT TO COUNCILOR STONE FOR COMMENT BUT WE HAVE NOT YET HEARD BACK.

A Claremont man said a city councilor's social media post enabled others' harsh backlash of his request to move religious holiday displays off public property. Sam Killay, 36, approached the town about moving a Nativity scene and large menorah from a public park last year. Killay said he and his wife have received harsh backlash since news reports over his requests spread through the community. "I've had people scream at me. I've had people mail me things. I've had people threaten me all over the internet," Killay said.According to Killay, some of that backlash was enabled by his own city councilor, Jon Stone. In screenshots given to NBC5 by Killay, a post from an account claiming to belong to Stone shared a news report about Killay's request to move the displays. In the comments, that same account shared personal photos and information about Killay and his wife, including where she worked.Other commenters hurled insults at the couple.Killay pointed to one comment in the thread he found particularly menacing. It made reference to a sling blade, which is a heavy, bladed farming tool. "He instigated it by putting that information out there," Killay said. Killay and his wife brought their concerns over the post to the City Council early this week. Mayor Charlene Lovett said the City Council's code of conduct has not been updated in over a decade and makes no mention of how elected officials should behave on social media. "I don't think it's appropriate for anyone, public official or not, to attack other people or marginalize them in any way," Lovett said. Lovett said some members of the public had demanded Stone resign. But, she said, the City Council does not have the authority to force a resignation in this situation. According to Lovett, a ballot vote would be needed to amend the city charter in order to make activity such as Stone's alleged social media posts a removable offense. Killay said he does not expect an apology from the city councilor, but he wants the city to take action to amend its code of conduct to include consequences for elected officials for their behavior both on and off social media. NBC5 requested comment from Stone multiple times but did not receive any response.

CLAREMONT, N.H. —

A Claremont man said a city councilor's social media post enabled others' harsh backlash of his request to move religious holiday displays off public property.

Sam Killay, 36, approached the town about moving a Nativity scene and large menorah from a public park last year.

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Killay said he and his wife have received harsh backlash since news reports over his requests spread through the community.

"I've had people scream at me. I've had people mail me things. I've had people threaten me all over the internet," Killay said.

According to Killay, some of that backlash was enabled by his own city councilor, Jon Stone.

In screenshots given to NBC5 by Killay, a post from an account claiming to belong to Stone shared a news report about Killay's request to move the displays.

In the comments, that same account shared personal photos and information about Killay and his wife, including where she worked.

Other commenters hurled insults at the couple.

Killay pointed to one comment in the thread he found particularly menacing.

It made reference to a sling blade, which is a heavy, bladed farming tool.

"He instigated it by putting that information out there," Killay said.

Killay and his wife brought their concerns over the post to the City Council early this week.

Mayor Charlene Lovett said the City Council's code of conduct has not been updated in over a decade and makes no mention of how elected officials should behave on social media.

"I don't think it's appropriate for anyone, public official or not, to attack other people or marginalize them in any way," Lovett said.

Lovett said some members of the public had demanded Stone resign.

But, she said, the City Council does not have the authority to force a resignation in this situation.

According to Lovett, a ballot vote would be needed to amend the city charter in order to make activity such as Stone's alleged social media posts a removable offense.

Killay said he does not expect an apology from the city councilor, but he wants the city to take action to amend its code of conduct to include consequences for elected officials for their behavior both on and off social media.

NBC5 requested comment from Stone multiple times but did not receive any response.